With Phase 3 of Singapore’s reopening on the horizon, rules on live indoor performances — which includes theatre shows and concerts — will be relaxed, meaning that we should be expecting more entertainment options in the coming months. But if you’re itching to catch your dose of live shows, then here are some productions that are sure crowd pleasers.
Grandmother Tongue
Dates: 14 — 31 January 2021
Location: The Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre (Funan)
Written and directed by Thomas Lim, the comedy sheds insight on Singapore’s mother tongue language policy — as well as its impact on the decline of dialects in Singapore.
#Theatre
Dates: 14 — 17 January 2021
Location: Esplanade Theatre Stage
A play with light, sound and space, this show is a poignant response to the closure of performance spaces as a result of COVID-19, and promises to be a quiet but grand journey through the theatre space.
The More Further Adventures of Dick Lee
Dates: 19 — 24 January 2021
Location: Singapore Repertory Theatre
With a hilariously ungrammatical title, you can expect this comedy from Dick Lee to feature tongue-in-cheek observations about the theatre industry and his life.
A Line Could Be Crossed And You Would Slowly Cease To Be
Dates: 20 — 23 January 2021 (live), 23 – 29 January 2021 (video on demand)
Location: Esplanade Theatre Studio
The title of this play refers to none other than climate change, as it explores the environmental ramifications on our planet with thought-provoking but beautiful visuals. Shows at the Esplanade Theatre Studio also include video on demand runs as a way to give more options for audiences to catch them.
ALIVE!
Dates: 21 — 25 January 2021
Location: Capitol Theatre
The first live concert series for 2021, ALIVE! consist of five different shows with a variety of local artistes on stage.
- 21 January: Art Fazil, Hyrul Anuar, Rahila Rashun, Jive Talkin’
- 22 January: Jeremy Monteiro & Friends
- 23 January: Joi Chua
- 24 January: Sherman Zhuo, Tien Chong, Cherelle Tan, Marcus Lee, Wilson Huang, Relyne Ban
- 25 January: Jimmy Ye
WAN BELANTARA: Enjet-Enjet Semut (KING OF THE JUNGLE: As the Ants Go Marching In)
Dates: 26 — 27 January 2021 (live), 29 January — 4 February 2021 (video on demand)
Location: Esplanade Theatre Studio
When a new king of the jungle is elected, an army of ants heads over to pay tribute in this Malay-language play with English subtitles that explores loyalty, leadership, and betrayal.
Pandan
Dates: 29 — 31 January 2021 (live), 2 — 8 February 2021 (video on demand)
Location: Esplanade Theatre Studio
A play in Malay and English with English subtitles that revolves around four individuals who each have their own secrets, it explores issues of faith and identity, and the struggle it takes to find one’s truest self.
The Amazing Celestial Race
Dates: 19 February — 21 March 2021
Location: The Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre (Funan)
Based on a reality television show that should be obvious from the title, this cute comedy reimagines the race with the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac calendar.
Girls & Boys
Dates: 25 February — 14 March 2021
Location: Drama Centre Theatre (National Library)
A one-woman play about a successful documentary filmmaker and her adventures with her family and various other colourful characters, the show also explores her relationship with her husband — and the disastrous consequences of his faults.
The Other F Word
Dates: 24 — 28 March 2021
Location: The Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre (Funan)
If you’re wondering what the “other” F word is, then you should really catch the play. The show explores what it’s like to be overweight in a world which prizes the exact opposite, and the body image issues that can arise as a result.
This article was first published on and written for Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore.
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I’m an independent scriptwriter who’s written for popular shows like Lion Mums, Crimewatch, Police & Thief, and Incredible Tales. I’m also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find me on social media as Optimarcus and on my site.
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